JTG at a signing prior to WrestleMania 23 in Detroit. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea

Just a day after Eugene (a.k.a. Nick Dinsmore) was released from WWE, Raw-based tag team Cryme Tyme was removed from the Raw roster.

"WWE has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstars Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard and Jayson Paul) as of September 2. We wish them both the best in all future endeavors."

The duo had been featured prominently on Raw over the last number of weeks, embroiled in a feud with World Tag Team Champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

Gaspard and Paul, better known as Shad and JTG respectively, were introduced to WWE fans last year through a series of vignettes featuring the Brooklyn natives, which ran for a few weeks.

The team debuted soon afterward and made a quick impact, becoming a dominant team on Raw while further developing their characters through backstage segments.

Throughout their tenure, Shad and JTG had spurts of being heavily featured on WWE TV, then dissappearing for weeks at a time. At the time of their release, it appeared as if Cryme Tyme would be headed towards an encounter with Cade and Murdoch for the World titles.

Prior to their WWE debut, both wrestlers rose through the WWE developmental system. Gaspard was originally part of the Tough Enough II cast, though he left the show early after failing a physical. He would later be brought into Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he would become a prominent figure in both singles and tag team competition. It was here that he first teamed with Paul (then known as the Neighbohoodie). The two would win the Southern Tag Team Championship during their tenure before debuting in October 2006.

Rumours around the Internet peg that a backstage incident was in part a reason for the team's release.

Gaspard commented on the release on his official MySpace.com page, apologizing to "anyone I have hurt or disrespected. I am truly sorry.

"Being a WWE wrestler has been a dream of mine since I was 5 years old and wrestling for WWE is the greatest job in the world. Unfortunately due to certain actions and events that I will NOT discuss J and I were released. WWE is not an evil greedy corporation, it is a family, and in my heart I know I will some day be a WWE Super star again and part of that family. But until then I will continue to learn my craft and become the best that I can be. God has shut a door in my life, but he is opening a window."